Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe Named Presenting Sponsor of 2023 Detroit Jazz Festival

DETROIT The Detroit Jazz Festival, the world’s largest (and best) free jazz festival in the world, today announced the Dirty Dog Jazz Café as the presenting sponsor of this year’s Festival to be held in downtown Detroit on Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1 – 4.

Celebrating its 15th year, the Dirty Dog Jazz Café’s remarkable presenting sponsorship of the Detroit Jazz Festival is in tribute to its founder, the late Gretchen C. Valade, who was known as the Angel of Jazz in Detroit and around the world. Among her countless contributions to Detroit’s business and jazz scene, Valade’s passion for supporting local jazz talent and audiences culminated into her spearheading the initiative to create the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation, an independent, non-profit organization that produces the Detroit Jazz Festival, which is its signature event. The Foundation also presents jazz and educational programs throughout the year.

“The sheer symbolism of the Dirty Dog Jazz Café as our presenting sponsor this year is truly a phenomenal tribute to the Angel of Jazz, the late Gretchen C. Valade and almost unimaginable statement of commitment to our mission of jazz and the community,” said Chris Collins, president and artistic director, Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation. “We are humbled and honored by this contribution and inspired to deliver a jazz festival that meets her high standards of jazz performances that will bring diverse audiences from around the world together in our beautiful downtown.”

“Gretchen C. Valade’s love of jazz was legendary, so we are happy to honor my mother and continue her legacy of support for the Detroit Jazz Festival as this year’s presenting sponsor. The Dirty Dog Cafe invites everyone to join us downtown Labor Day weekend as we celebrate music and community by welcoming some of the world’s greatest jazz musicians to Detroit,” said Mark Valade.

Located in Grosse Pointe Farms, the Dirty Dog Jazz Café has been one of the top jazz clubs in metro Detroit, known for legendary jazz and fine food.

 Open Call for Poster Art Submissions

The Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation is pleased to announce a call for poster submissions for the 2023 Detroit Jazz Festival. Applicants must live in the city of Detroit and be 18 years of age or older. For more information, go to detroitjazzfest.org.

About the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation 

Under the leadership of President and Artistic Director Chris Collins, the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that presents jazz and educational workshops throughout the year. The Foundation produces the Detroit Jazz Festival, which is the signature event for the Foundation and the largest free jazz festival in the world. The Festival is also a major tourist attraction for the City of Detroit, with 26 percent of its audience coming from out of state. For more information, visit detroitjazzfest.org.

The Foundation receives grant funding from the DTE Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Arts Midwest, D’Addario Foundation and Carolyn Wanzo and the Purify Wanzo CTAA Endowment at Wayne State University. Hundreds of individuals also contribute to the Festival through membership and donations.

Major corporate partners include Rocket Mortgage, Carhartt, JP Morgan Chase, Absopure and Kia.

Media partners include Fox 2 Detroit, WJR Newstalk 760 AM, WEMU-FM, DownBeat, JazzTimes, WDET-FM 101.9, WRCJ 90.9 FM, Channel 22, city of Detroit’s new arts and entertainment channel; Qwest TV and Detroit Public Television.

For more information, visit:

Website – www.detroitjazzfest.org

Facebook — @DetroitJazzFestival

Twitter — @DetroitJazzFest

Instagram — @DetroitJazzFest

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